News

With strong ties to Clay County and a long history with the Roman L. Hruska U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, just west of Clay Center, Ronnie Green, who has served as the Chancellor of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for just over five years, made his first stop of a statewide tour of UNL facilities last week at the US MARC center Wednesday, June 30.

Green, with his wife Jane Pauley Green, a Harvard native, made the trek through Nebraska last week, paying visits to university operations in North Platte, Curtis, Ogallala and Scottsbluff, before enjoying the Fourth of July weekend in the Pine Ridge areas of Northwest Nebraska, specifically in and around the Crawford and Ft. Robinson State Park areas.

Green, who made the facility in Clay County his first visit of the trip, was able to spend some time touring with Center Director Dr. Mark Boggess and several research directors, including Dr. Carol Chitko-McK own, Dr. Harvey Freetly, and Dr. Tommy Wheeler.

The annual Clay County Fair themed “Home Grown Fun,” will be chock full of events and activities July 7-10, at the fairgrounds in Clay Center.

The first 4-H event of the fair will begin at 11 a.m., with the rabbit show, followed by the poultry show at 2 p.m.

The 4-H bucket calf show starts at 5:30 p.m., followed by a first-time event at the fair— extreme bull riding, which begins at 7 p.m.

The annual swine show starts Thursday, July 8 off early, at 8:30 a.m., followed by the open class and 4-H horse show at noon.

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Volunteer firefighters from Fairfield and Deweese conducted a practice burn at the intersection of 4th and B Streets in Fairfield June 26. Here, Fairfield Chief Bob Breckner and firefighter Chandler Soucie can be seen in the front doorway of the house. TORY DUNCAN | CLAY COUNTY NEWS

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Sutton will be celebrating its 150th year with a large Dugout Days, July 1-4, as several events and activities have been planned for the once-in-a-lifetime moment.

Thursday, July 1, kicks off the four-day event with the opening of the carnival at 5 p.m., until midnight. Also starting at 5 p.m. is rocky mountain oysters and a beer garden at the Sutton Legion.

FRIDAY, JULY 2

Swimming activities begin day two, going from 11 a.m.-noon, for preschool through sixth grade.

Cornerstone Bank’s fishing contest opens at 1 p.m., at Clark’s Pond, followed by free swimming at the aquatic center from 3-5 p.m.

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The annual Clay County Fair themed “Home Grown Fun,” will be chock full of events and activities July 7-10, at the fairgrounds in Clay Center.

The first 4-H event of the fair will begin at 11 a.m., with the rabbit show, followed by the poultry show at 2 p.m.

The 4-H bucket calf show starts at 5:30 p.m., followed by a first-time event at the fair—extreme bull riding, which begins at 7 p.m.

The annual swine show starts Thursday, July 8 off early, at 8:30 a.m., followed by the open class and 4-H horse show at noon.

To read more please log in or subscribe to the digital edition. http://etypeservices.com/Clay%20County%20NewsID530/

A town hall meeting was hosted in Fairfield Tuesday, June 22, to discuss street repair.

The Fairfield City Council is applying for a Community Development Block Grant to help pay for street upgrades within the next few years. The grant amount can range from $250,000 to $400,000 with a 20 percent match from the town.

The application is due Aug. 15, with work to be done from May 2022 through April 2024, if approved. The first year will consist of planning and design, while the actual work will begin during the second year.

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As of 11:59 p.m., June 30, Nebraska will no longer be in a state of emergency, according to Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts during a press conference Monday morning.

The state of emergency was put in place on March 13, 2020.

Also ending will be the contract with TestNebraska, at 11:59 p.m., July 30. Thus far, 772,000 tests have been done in Nebraska Ricketts said. The last day to get a test will be July 18, with the program officially ending July 30.

Throughout the pandemic, Ricketts said Nebraska did a great job with everything from keeping fatality rates down, to keeping kids in school, and many items in between.

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ABOVE: Community members stand with their hands over their hearts during the playing of the National Anthem, as Darrel Springer drives a flag-lamented combine through the parade to get the annual EdgarFest parade underway Saturday, June 26. Many activities were planned for the festival, including bingo, swimming, a BBQ hosted by the fire department, and fireworks.

RIGHT: Stan Brennfoerder helps Knoxee Reed pick up candy during the parade Saturday evening. LOETTA SWANSON | CLAY COUNTY NEWS

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Winners of the Nebraska Press Associations Better Newspaper contest were announced June 17, with the Clay County News earning 11 awards in 10 categories.

Earning first place was managing editor Tory Duncan in News Photo of semis maneuvering parts of a wind turbine through Clay Center; and Sports Column, which focused on Joe Hinrichs and his wrestling career.

Second-place wins went to Duncan for Sports Feature Photo of Hinrichs at the 2020 wrestling meet; and Sports Page; and to news editor Ashley D. Swanson in Single Retail Ad-B&W for the Sutton kindergarten round-up; Feature Photo of a lightning strike during the Trumbull VFD fireworks display; and Breaking News Photo of an August 2020 tornado.

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Harvard School Board members unanimously approved a student board liaison program, to start in August, at their June 21 meeting.

The idea of having a student board liaison first came to the HPS Board at its April meeting, when three members of Grand Island Public School, including GIPS Executive Principal Jeff Gilbertson, senior Kendall Bartling and his mentor Lisa Alberts, joined the board members in a zoom call.

The trio discussed Bartling’s position on the GIPS School Board as a student representative, noting how it was a good way for the board to stay in contact with what students are thinking and keep students informed with what the board is discussing.

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